A Valentine’s Treat With Aphrodisiac Magic

Get in the mood with chocolate, pomegranates, and yes, beets!

Valentine’s Day Meets Aquafaba

Perhaps Valentine’s Day comes along in February for good reason. Winter has been with us a little past its welcome, and we need a little motivation to get convivial. Give the sweatpants and hoodie a rest and at least make an effort to look good for your mate, that sort of thing.

It’s always a good excuse to have a sensual dinner, and open a bottle of something special. For that, we thank good  ol’ Saint Valentine.

If you are looking for a little extra spark, you may want to pick some extra-sexy aphrodisiac foods for your special meal. Some of the historically lauded aphrodisiacs make the list on looks alone, such as the suggestive asparagus, avocado, and fig. Others, though, have a nutritional basis for being considered good for the boudoir.

Beets, the ruby red roots we eat in borscht, are actually one of the foods that does something for your sexual performance. I know, you are saying, “What? A vegetable that my husband hates, not oysters?” Beets, it turns out, are one of the foods highest in the Nitrates that convert to nitric oxide. Nitric oxide relaxes the walls of your circulatory system.

That is the same thing Viagra does.

Yup. Beets are the safe, natural version of all those pills they hawk on TV for ED.

Start the day with Beet Juice Aphrodisiacs

If you really want to take beets out for a spin on this issue, make this beet enhanced cake. Nobody will be the wiser. But for the real effect, juice some beets and drink it throughout the day of your romantic date. Try this recipe, for starters.

Because good circulation and overall health are at the heart of sexual health, let’s just keep going. This cake, in all its chocolate glory, is vegan, so it’s heart healthy from the jump. It has a beet puree, hidden in its moist, tender crumb. It’s made rich with coconut oil, the fat that energizes, while having the mouthfeel of butter.

Chocolate is An Aphrodisiac

If you take a look at the recipe, you’ll see that there are 12 ounces of dark chocolate in the cake and mousse, and some cocoa, as well. If you eat one slice, you are getting an ounce of chocolate and a teaspoon of cocoa. Chocolate, which we now classify as a health food for its antioxidants, is a classic aphrodisiac. It contains cannabinoids, which trigger the same pleasure centers in the brain as marijuana. It has a mellow form of caffeine, to give you a little boost.

It’s luscious and sensual in the mouth. It’s the essence of Valentine’s Day.

Deep Dark Chocolate, with Brilliant Red Accents

For even more pulse pounding heart health, I went with pomegranate juice, and gave the sauce a little kick with cayenne. The hit of spice in the sweet, tangy sauce wakes up your palate on every bite, reminding you that you are alive. It’s also a circulatory stimulant, raising your metabolism just a bit.

Romance is in the Air

Aquafaba is hot!

The fun part of this dessert is the aquafaba. If you haven’t tried it yet, aquafaba is the water that you have left when you cook chickpeas. It’s a miraculous discovery, because it’s something we used to pour down the drain, which we can now use to replace egg whites in baking. You can use the aquafaba from canned, unsalted chickpeas- you’ll need to drain about 3 cans to get enough for this recipe, or make your own.

If you make your own, measure out 2 cups dried chickpeas, 6 cups water, then put in a pot and simmer on the stovetop (lid on) for at least 4 hours on low. Don’t rush it, you want the beans to be almost falling apart, and the liquid to be rich with beany proteins and starches. Cool the beans in the liquid before straining. Chill the liquid. I like to portion it into 1/2 cup containers and freeze it, so I have it handy.

Then you have plenty of chickpeas on hand to make hummus!

You’ll have plenty of cake left for energizing pick me ups all week

Then, you can whip the aquafaba to make puffy, billowy clouds, just like the kind you can make with egg whites. A big bonus is that when you fold in melted chocolate to make mousse, there is no risk of food poisoning, as there is from raw eggs. And you are leaving the chickens alone, as you revel in the fluffy, light mousse.

Folding Chocolate into Whipped Aquafaba

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Valentine's Chocolate Beet Cake with Pomegranate Chile Sauce and Mousse

Three easy components, made with the magic of aquafaba, make a stunning Valentine's dessert.

Course Dessert

Servings 12

Author Robin Asbell

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups organic sugar, divided
• 2 cups aquafaba, divided
• 1 cup chopped beets 6 ounces
• 1/2 cup vanilla non-dairy milk
• 12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, 70% cacao
• 1/2 cup melted coconut oil
• 1 te vanilla
• 1 cup unbleached flour
• 1/4 cup cocoa
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 teaspoon cream of tartar, divided
• 1 cup pomegranate juice
• 1/2 cup organic sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne
• 1/2 cup Superfruit jam
• powdered sugar for dusting
• pomegranate seeds for garnish

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350 F. Line 2 9-inch round cake pans with parchment, then grease and dust with cocoa, shaking the pans and tapping on the counter to coat. Reserve.
• Use the Vitamix to grind 1 cup of the sugar for the cake, and reserve. Grind the 1/4 cup for the mousse, and reserve.

  Measure 1 1/4 cup aquafaba for the cake and put it in the stand mixer with the whisk attachment, or in a large bowl if you are using an electric mixer. Save the remaining 3/4 cup aquafaba for the mousse.
• Steam the beets for about 15 minutes, until very tender. Melt half of the chocolate and let cool. Place the milk , coconut oil, melted chocolate and beets in the Vitamix and secure the lid. Select Variable Speed 1 and turn on the machine. Gradually increase the speed to 10 and blend for 30 seconds to a minute, until smooth.
• In a large bowl, whisk the unbleached flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt. Stir in the beet mixture. It will be thick.

  In the stand mixer, put 1/2 teaspoon of the cream of tartar and mix on low for 1 minute, then increase to high. Set a timer for 15 minutes, and sprinkle in a tablespoon of the cup of organic sugar that you ground at the beginning every 30 seconds or so. At the end it will be billowy and glossy.
• Fold a third of the aquafaba mixture into the flour mixture, then when it is well mixed, gently fold in the remaining. When it's just combined but not deflated, scrape into the pans and smooth the tops. Bake for about 30-35 minutes. When a toothpick inserted into the center of a layer comes out with only moist crumbs, transfer to racks to cool.
• For the sauce

  Pour the pomegranate juice and sugar into a small pan and bring to a boil over high heat. Lower to medium low and simmer vigorously for about 10 minutes, to reduce to 3/4 cup. Whisk in cayenne and simmer briefly, then transfer to a pouring vessel.
• For the mousse

  Melt the remaining 6 ounces chocolate and let cool to room temp.Place the remaining 3/4 cup aquafaba and 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar in the stand mixer with the whisk attachment. Mix on low for a minute, then increase to high and beat for 10 minutes. Still on high, sprinkle in the remaining sugar over the course of 5 minutes, very gradually. Gently fold in the melted chocolate, then chill the mousse, covered.
• To assemble

  Run a knife around each layer of cake and loosen the layers. Place a cake plate over one, and flip onto the plate. Peel off the paper. Spread with the jam. Repeat with the second layer. Use a fine sieve to dust with powdered sugar.

  Slice in 12 pieces. Serve each slice with a tablespoon or so of sauce and a scoop of mousse, garnish with pomegranate seeds.